New Jersey rail transfer station garners support

Public support for a proposed $40 million rail transfer station in Pennsauken, N.J., across the river from Philadelphia,appeared substantial at a Community Information Session held Tuesday in the municipality by New Jersey Transit. NJT seeks to build the station to tie its east-west Atlantic City Line passenger rail service to and from Philadelphia with its north-south RiverLINE diesel light rail transit (DLRT) line linking Trenton and Camden.

Such a station was to be built during construction of the RiverLINE, which opened for revenue service in 2004, but was deleted as a cost-saving measure by New Jersey Transit.

NJT seeks to build the station in two stages, mostly due to the its reliance on American Recovery and Reinvstment Act (ARRA) stimulus funding requirements.

One southern New Jersey rail advocate who attended the meeting said no one present appeared opposed to the project, a strikingly different sentiment given the past vocal opposition by Pennsauken residents and other nearby neighbors to the implementation of both existing rail passenger lines involved. Current concerns focus more on security at the new facility and its adjacent parking area.